Washington, D.C. – The District of Columbia Coalition Against Domestic Violence (DCCADV), a non-profit organization that serves as the federally-recognized statewide coalition of domestic violence programs, organizations, and individuals organized to ensure the elimination of domestic violence in the district, honored Democracy Forward at the group’s 40th anniversary celebration last night. The recognition focused on Democracy Forward’s work in representing DCCADV, alongside a broad group of more than 20 state coalitions, in lawsuits challenging unlawful grant restrictions at the U.S. Departments of Justice (DOJ), Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Health and Human Services (HHS). Democracy Forward’s Legal Director Robin Thurston and Senior Counsel Kristin Bateman accepted the recognition on the organization’s behalf.
“The Trump-Vance administration used survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault as pawns in a political game. The new conditions they tried to impose threatened to make it difficult or impossible for groups to serve communities of color, transgender survivors, immigrants, and other underserved populations like Congress intended,” said Bateman in accepting the recognition. “We’re honored to have represented the District of Columbia Coalition Against Domestic Violence and coalitions across the nation to ensure that life saving services and support continued uninterrupted. We will continue to use every legal tool available to protect the people in America from the president’s retribution agenda.”
Last year, the DOJ’s Office on Violence Against Women changed grant requirements to include a certification that applicants would not support diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility programs, discuss “gender ideology,” or serve undocumented immigrants, even when those services were required by law or essential to survivor care. These new restrictions would have made it impossible for many domestic and sexual violence service providers to operate programs effectively, threatening to eliminate services that victims of violence rely on in communities throughout the country.
Representing a nationwide group of state domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions, including the DCCDAV, Democracy Forward and co-counsel won a preliminary order blocking these unlawful restrictions on behalf of in Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, et al. v. Bondi, et al. This ensured that funding could continue for organizations that rely on these grants to provide trauma-informed care, emergency housing, legal assistance, and more. The groups also blocked an attempt at similar restrictions on grants for survivors of domestic violence and others in need from HUD and HHS.
For 40 years, DCCADV has worked alongside survivors, advocates, and partners to strengthen protections and resources for survivors of domestic violence in the District and across the country. As part of this milestone celebration, the group recognized individuals and organizations whose leadership has made a meaningful difference for survivors.
Find more information about Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, et al. v. Blanche, et al. (previously Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, et al. v. Bondi) here. For more information about Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence v. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. et al. please click here.
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Democracy Forward Foundation is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visit www.democracyforward.org.
